From being an Abandoned who had rarely left the Hollowed Grounds, to embracing the call of adventure, to dying and being reborn first as an Ascended and then as an Ancient, Maea has gone through quite the amount of changes in her life. One thing remains common, though, in her attempts to find out just where she belongs; she’s always had a craving for knowledge which has brought her to so many places and to meet so many people here in Caido. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!
Congratulations, Maea!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
Farrow was exhausted the next day, her experience in her mother's garden helped her. But did nothing for the soreness in her muscles. She enjoyed a small meal by the water, watching the way the moved ceaselessly to and from the shore.
When it was time, Farrow helped with the construction of the frame for the pier that would connect the land and water portions of the clinic and allow easy access to both sides. With a myriad of tools tied to her belt she worked quickly, excited too see how things would turn out.
Upon hearing a small mutter about the rough edges of the land clinic, she smiled at Ray and said "Nothing a nice coat of paint won't fix" the perfect imitation of her own mother's placating words.
***
Farrow uses her many tools to help build framing for the pier
When the day's work was done at the clinic Hadama aquaported back to the Underwater palace to tend to those issues which had come up in his absence and required a royal decision. The matters were few and not pressing, but he dealt with them all before swimming to his chambers to rest.
He was up early the next day to swim the distance from City to Haulani, enjoying both the solitude and the morning workout. It certainly meant he arrived with an appetite, and he murmured his gratitude to Ray as he selected pastries and fruit with the eye of a practiced gourmand. Greeting both Farrow and Kaiden with his usual stoic poise, he then turned his attentions to the day's tasks.
While the mershark finished up the rooms, Hadama went with those beginning the construction of the bridge, using his strength to move things along and shift or steady the building stones as needed.
Hadama helps with the bridge! (platform?)
A new day begins, and a new problem arises. The underwater rooms are most certainly not finished. Way to go Kaiden. The mershark got into an argument with one of the NPCs and promptly wasted a good two hours in a fiery discussion including insults, about the merits of stone vs steel floors. Nothing gets done on their end.
Hadama however, has far greater success. He's able to build the mer's section of the bridge and platform with ease. Thankfully the frames of the underwater rooms are able to hold he connection while the rooms are still a work in progress. A bridge now stretches out of the water and into a floating platform for the land dwellers to connect to.
Well, if they had a section to connect. Farrow's frame for the land portion collapses and the team has to spend an hour or so dismantling the new pile of debris. Once that's done however, things move smoothly. Ray his able to create the land portion of the bridge but it still needs to be connected to the floating platform now.
"Ok. Take a breather and let's keep going!" Ray cheers, trying to bring the morale back up, even as a few glares are still thrown at Kaiden for their continued grumbling. Hopefully the mershark won't start a fight.
~
Round 4! No post order.
1. Kaiden needs to finish the damn rooms. Hadama please help him.
2. Ray and Farrow need to finish the connection between the land portion of the bridge to Hadama's water platform.
Kaiden huffs, annoyed that they're somehow taking the blame for other's stupidity. This was why they avoided other people. They were idiotic, stubborn, and incapable of just about anything but annoying the mershark. Sending a glare at Ray's obnoxiously cheerful face, the mershark huffed and returned to their task.
They wanted this done, now. Grabbing a bucket of stones, they went and began to finalize the rooms with the reluctant NPCs. Filling in the walls completely and adding the necessary shelves and tables with steel. At least, that was their goal and intention. If another pest got in theri way and started arguing about what should be common sense, Kaiden might bite them.
~
Kaiden grabs some stone, steel, and some disgruntled NPCs and tries to finish the rooms. (Walls, shelves, and tables.)
"I will help Kaiden," Hadama offered peaceably - aloud, so Farrow could hear - before diving back beneath the water. He swam over to where grumbling Mer had gathered and took over the task of dividing the group into those working on the floors (stone, he chose decisively. Steel would not rust any time soon, but it would rust eventually without due care and maintenance, and who wanted to spend that much time protecting floors from rusting?) and those assisting with the walls. He gave instructions for any further questions to be directed to him if a decision couldn't be reached within a few minutes of discussion.
Once that was sorted, Hadama himself went to personally help Kaiden with his usual calm, unflappable acceptance of the mershark's grumbling as they worked to bolt or otherwise attach the shelving for Ray's tools when she needed to work underwater. When it came to the tables, however, he shook his head, firmly suggesting instead hammocks that could accommodate a wider variety of Mer bodies. And they can be wrapped around an unconscious patient so they are not shifted by the currents, he explained. But can still move if they awaken.
Hadama divides up the NPCs into clear working groups and makes decisions if there are further arguments. He personally goes to help Kaiden so no one else needs to deal with the surly mershark <3
Farrow flinched when, just as she turned to tell Ray that her portion of frame was et and ready, the whole thing came crashing down in a plume of dust and, somehow, smoke. The rebuilding was done in silence on her end, her cheeks perpetually red with embarrassment to her folly.
Ray tried to keep morale up, but between Farrow's issues and Kaiden's argument with another volunteer, not a lot moved along.
That is, until Hadama stepped forward and took control of what he could. He kept things running smoothly in the underwater portion of the clinic and Farrow joined Ray in the final connection between the land and underwater areas.
***
Farrow is super embarrassed but she helps Ray build the final connection between land and water.
The team disbands and gets to work. It's chaotic, messy, and no one comes out without at least one bruise. But they succeed. Kaiden and Hadama finish the rooms. At Hadams' question, Ray easily gives her approval. Sounds good. Do whatever you think is best. She trusts Hadama's judgment and expertise on underwater infrastructure. And it's a good thing to, because despite the second argument that breaks out when an NPC gets too close to Kaiden, they're done.
On land, it's just as hectic. It takes multiple tries but soon enough Ray and Farrow finish the connection, marking the end of that mess. The underwater construction is complete and the land-one is nearly there.
Ray calls everyone back together and takes a deep breath, "Well. We're almost there. The surface portion just needs a roof and for the beds and storage to be added. And the underwater portion just needs to be stocked and decorated. Let's get to it!"
~
Round 5! NPCs are available. No post order.
1. One to put the roof on the surface portion of the clinic.
2. One to add the beds/storage to the surface portion.
3. One to stock the underwater portion.
4. One to decorate the underwater portion.
Some people just didn't know how to mind their own damn business. It was only the intervention of Hadama that had prevented Kaiden from biting someone. Hopefully their attempt has at least gotten the point across to those idiots. At least things were slowing down, even if they were struggling.
"I'll stock the damn thing." Kaiden has no experience with decorating, and they have no intention of learning today. Grabbing the aquatic herb and supplies bundles from the bank as well as the kelp that Hadama had brought, they set out stocking the infirmary. It's a pleasant surprise to see waterproof bandages and Kaiden wonders who had come up with that one. They'll be useful for sure, not that they'll share that with the bossy herbalist.
~
Kaiden grabs the supplies/herbs/kelp that Hadama brought and begins to stock the underwater infirmary.
It wasn't easy, but thankfully the peace was kept and they were able to finish the rooms and anchor the hammocks for future patients without anyone needing immediate medical treatment.
Hadama had been an artisan before he had become a king and he was no stranger to decorating. He had helped to adorn the watery tunnel that led beneath the Court of Stars to the healing fountain, and had aided Flora in decorating her home when it had been new. He nodded equably to Kaiden's decision to stock the shelves and drawers while the Tidebreaker went on a little fishing expedition.
Not for fish, of course.
Instead he used some of the kelp to weave large, loose netting that he affixed to the rear wall of each chamber. Through it he threaded several colorful sea plants that he had carefully dug up, rooting them into the floor beneath and up into the netting itself. Small, bright shells were added higher up, twinkling like irregular stars above the living aquaculture 'landscapes' below.
Hadama adds some living art to the back walls of the underwater rooms!
Farrow left the roof work to Ray and a few very large NPC men who looked like they could kill someone as easily as snapping a toothpick. Instead, she headed inside the new wing and helped assemble bedframes, tables, and chairs which were deposited one per room.
She spent a good while making the beds up, folding the edges of the sheets with perfect folds and piling fluffy blankets on top. They looked comfortable and inviting, a perfect place for rest should it be needed, and equipped in case multi-day stays were necessary.
For a final bit of flair, Farrow ran out to a market close by and purchased a handful of brightly colored lilies and creat hydroponic displays with them, making sure each room had a colorful bouquet, with the roots tangled together in water.
***
Farrow helps set up the clinic rooms and adds a bit of color with some flowers!
02-25-2023, 08:27 PM (This post was last modified: 02-25-2023, 08:27 PM by Ray.)
Ray
Vibrancy is crucial In life
Kaiden is...not an organized individual it seems. They get everything put away but they mis-label half of the items. It's only when one of the NPCs points it out that he mershark catches on. Thankfully some of the NPCs know how to identify things and can help them fix it?
Hadama crafts a beautiful array of wall art. But it seems that one of the decorative nets is too heavy and it falls to the floor. That'll need to be put back.
Farrow excels where the others fail, the surface portion of their clinic looks beautiful! Except for the massive hole where the roof should be.
One of the NPCs helping Ray falls off a ladder and she has to stop working to tend to him. Don't worry, he's ok! A few bruises and scrapes but after having his injuries covered in ointment and wrapped, he'll be fine. However, zero progress has been made on the roof.
"Well, shit. Let's finish this all up and get a meal? My treat." That mer-human restaurant was open now, right?
~
Last round! Thank you for bearing with me!
1. Kaiden and a helpful NPCs need to fix all of the labels.
2. Hadama needs to reattach the fallen net.
3. Farrow needs to stock the surface portion (herbs, medicines, bandages, etc.)
4. Ray needs to finish the roof.
This day just kept getting worse and worse. Just when they think they're done, some nosy lady walks over and points at the tins and boxes with a sheepish look. Only to inform them that they've mislabeled everything. Everything. Well maybe not the bandages. But all of the medicines and aquatic herbs? Absolutely.
It's only the lady's warm demeanor and stern eyes that keep the mershark in check. She sets out with them to fix all of their mistakes, lecturing them the entire way about the importance of properly sorting items. Kaiden will deny it, but there's at least one desperate and suffering look made at Hadama. A silent and reluctant plea for help.
~
Kaiden and an NPC work to fix the mistakes with the labels and finish the stocking of the underwater portion.
02-28-2023, 03:42 AM (This post was last modified: 02-28-2023, 03:42 AM by Hadama.)
Perhaps he had gotten a little carried away with his decorations. Hadama considered the fallen net philosophically and then shifted to spread it out on the floor of the exam room, checking the plants and decorations woven through it and straightening or reattaching those things which had come loose in the current. Eventually the roots would be strong and secure enough to keep them firmly attached to both the net and the wall behind it, but for now things were still fragile and had yet to grow into their strength.
He could hear Kaiden receiving an education but the information would hopefully do the mershark some future good. The lesson was an important one, though the mermanta could almost feel the mershark's growing desperation as a palpable current in the water. Eventually he swam up to view the net from above and nodded in satisfaction at the repairs before turning to the other two mer politely.
Kaiden, could you hold this in place? A request the Merfolk herbalist was happy to oblige, handing the young grump over to the King while she finished fixing Kaiden's mistakes. With a second set of hands to hold the top edge in place, Hadama was able to properly affix the border to the stone in a way that the gentle currents of the canal wouldn't dislodge.
Thank you. He offered his prickly friend a nod of gratitude and then swam to the surface to check on Ray and Farrow, looking forward to that meal Ray had promised.
Hadama repairs the living art wall and rescues Kaiden to help him hang it.
Farrow noticed a slight commotion over by the water, and spied Kaiden getting an earful from an unknown volunteer, finger wagging and all. Farrow grimaced and sent a sympathetic look his way. She had been on the receiving end of herbal admonitions from her mother on a few occasions.
They were never fun.
But the sudden and somewhat harsh reminder had Farrow sitting at a table in the clinic and meticulously stuffing containers and jars with a series of herbs, oils, and tinctures. She sniffed and tasted when necessary and labeled each with her small, concise writing. She made an effort to make her normal scratch precise, and clean, keeping in mind that others would have to be able to read it.
She then gathered what she had and distributed them throughout the different rooms, dropping glass jars full of bandages, cotton gauze, and wipes on the counters as well.
